Vulgar, crude, and occasionally scandalous in its racial humor, this hilarious bad-taste spoof of Westerns, co-written by Richard Pryor, features Cleavon Little as the first black sheriff of a stunned town scheduled for demolition by an… MoreVulgar, crude, and occasionally scandalous in its racial humor, this hilarious bad-taste spoof of Westerns, co-written by Richard Pryor, features Cleavon Little as the first black sheriff of a stunned town scheduled for demolition by an encroaching railroad. Little and co-star Gene Wilder have great chemistry, and the delightful supporting cast includes Harvey Korman, Slim Pickens, and Madeline Kahn as a chanteuse modelled on Marlene Dietrich. As in Young Frankenstein (1974), Silent Movie (1976), and High Anxiety (1977), director/writer Mel Brooks gives a burlesque spin to a classic Hollywood movie genre; in his own manic, Borscht Belt way, Brooks was a central player in revising classic genres in light of Seventies values and attitudes, an effort most often associated with such directors as Robert Altman and Peter Bogdanovich . Some of this film's sequences, notably a gaseous bean dinner around a campfire, have become comedy classics. ~ Robert Firsching, Rovi

Consensus:
Daring, provocative, and laugh-out-loud funny, Blazing Saddles is a gleefully vulgar spoof of Westerns that marks a high point in Mel Brooks' storied career.

Richard Schickel

TIME Magazine

Goldarned if the whole fool enterprise is not worth the attention of any moviegoer with a penchant for what one actor, commenting on another's Gabby Hayes imitation, calls 'authentic western gibberish.'

An African-American sheriff protects a Western town threatened by a railroad expansion.
Let's take a look at some of the bits in this film. First, the bad… MoreAn African-American sheriff protects a Western town threatened by a railroad expansion.
Let's take a look at some of the bits in this film. First, the bad guys want to discredit the sheriff, so they employ a prostitute to seduce him. She does, but because black men have large penises, she is grateful for their night of love-making and doesn't threaten his honor. Second, the sheriff outwits the bad guys by dressing up as a bellboy, who goes unnoticed because black people are meant to be in servile roles.
There's no doubt that there's a lot of satire here, but the film nonetheless commerces in racial stereotypes in ways that I find uncomfortable. Rather than finding the film funny, I found its social critique pedestrian, and while making fun of racism is good, repeating racial stereotypes can be dangerous even under the glass of satire. Perhaps if I had seen this film when it was first released, I would have found it valuable, but now I find it difficult to recommend.
Overall, with uncomfortable racial politics, i don't think this film hits the mark.

Dan Schultz

A fantastically offensive, hilarious satire on westerns and the film industry in general concerning a small town in the 1800's who have a tough time… MoreA fantastically offensive, hilarious satire on westerns and the film industry in general concerning a small town in the 1800's who have a tough time dealing with a black sheriff (Cleavon Little) taking over their town, as a greedy State Attorney (Harvey Korman) looks to get rid of the town in hopes of building a cheaper railroad route through it. In terms of the 70's, this is a foul-mouthed, super crude film that understandably got a lot of controversy seeing all the racist jokes involved. For that fearlessness, as well as a flat-out ridiculously hysterical finale that obliterates the fourth wall and pokes the film industry so hard in the ribs even they have to let out a laugh, this film is one of the best comedies of the 70's, and Brooks' second best film next to "Young Frankenstein".

Jim Careter

Blazing Saddles is an american classic, it may be one of the funniest spoofs ever made, and is also one of Mel Brooks best film.

Dean !

Still quite a funny spoof on westerns by today's standards.

Mister Caple

Though it may not have the cinematic output of his 1968 hit "The Producers",writer-producer-director Mel Brooks scored one of the biggest hits of the… MoreThough it may not have the cinematic output of his 1968 hit "The Producers",writer-producer-director Mel Brooks scored one of the biggest hits of the era. "Blazing Saddles" not only put Mel Brooks on the Hollywood map,but cemented his status as one of the great comedy directors of all time. Mel Brooks in 1974 was on a box-office rollercoaster scoring two of the biggest hits of that year. "Blazing Saddles" was a hilarious take on the Hollywood Western while his other smash "Young Frankenstein" was a hilarious take on the monster movies of the 1930's. "Blazing Saddles" at the time of its release was shocking and pointed-with its mixture of surrealism,slapstick,and groundbreaking vulgarity throughout,this was Mel Brooks' finest influential film that went on to become one of the top ten highest grossing films of 1974. Despite its hackeyned setting-the Old West-and it's 1970's veneer-hip gags about race and sex-it stands proud as one of his most brilliant works of his career (Mel Brooks was not only the 1950's comedy writer for "The Milton Berle Show",but Mel Brooks was one of the creative writers behind the 1960's television series "Get Smart")
"Blazing Saddles" nods to the zany comedy of the Marx Brothers and the slapstick parody of The Three Stooges,but owes a great deal to the deranged, parodic, reference-obsessed humor of MAD magazine,Brooks's film takes on that tradition-sight gags where Klansmen and Nazis wait in line to join an 1870's lynch mob, oxen with YES or NO painted on them, verbal references to other movies ("You'd do it for Randolph Scott!")-and puts it into the cinema for the first time. In doing so, not only it did spoof on Randolph Scott,but it spoof other Western greats like Gary Cooper and John Wayne,not to even mention it spoof Clint Eastwood and James Stewart. "Blazing Saddles" influnced the Zucker Brothers, the Wayans ,and other imitators,and hence invented a genre that still holds up today. The film was an extended riff of Gary Cooper's "High Noon",but its genius lies in being more than just a parody,"Blazing Saddles" adds additional layers to the comedic plot,most notable of which is the twist that the new sheriff is black played by Cleavon Little(whose career peaked with this film)who beat out Richard Pryor for the role of Sheriff Bart,and who is supported by an almost restrained Gene Wilder(whose career took off after this movie,and won the starring role in Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein"). "Blazing Saddles" had a hilarious cast ensemble that included comedy greats Harvey Korman, Madeline Kahn, and Dom DeLuise, and former NFL-great Alex Karras not to mention putting in actors that were known for starring in various Westerns like Slim Pickens, Dub Taylor,David Huddleston, Claude Starr Ennis, Jr., and Jack Elam. And has a cameo appearance by Count Basie. The movie upon its general release is laced with the usuge of racial words,not to mention vulgar sexual references throughout(the scene where Cleavon Little's sheriff Bart tells Madeline Kahn, "Excuse me while I pull this out!" is hilarious as it gets)not to mention the film's scene of cowboys eating beans around the campfire is the funniest ever. The phenomenal success of "Blazing Saddles" started a revolution in what was to be comedy,and set the tone for what was to come. That success almost produced a sequel which Warner Brothers was set to do two years after its release,but it did not come true. However, Mel Brooks went on to do "High Anxiety", "Silent Movie", the hilariously funny as hell "History of the World: Part 1",and his spoof on Star Wars "Spaceballs"........
After its general release, "Blazing Saddles" became a HUGE cult following as it became part of special midnight showings throughout the country for late show viewing,and to this day it still continues to be seen in theatres as part of that(it is second to 1975's "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" as the longest running theatrical showing of a film in existence).
From the local ad: "The movie Clint Eastwood and John Wayne REFUSED to make!"

Samuel Riley

A true classic comedy. With so many iconic performances and performances, mainily from the Gene Wilder as 'The Wacko Kid'. This is my most favoured… MoreA true classic comedy. With so many iconic performances and performances, mainily from the Gene Wilder as 'The Wacko Kid'. This is my most favoured Mel Brooks movie and more than worth a try for those who want to see classics/ highly recognised comedy movies.

Alex roy

Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles is an essential comedy classic. The film is a must see spoof of the Western genre. Blazing Saddles is a brilliant film with… MoreMel Brooks' Blazing Saddles is an essential comedy classic. The film is a must see spoof of the Western genre. Blazing Saddles is a brilliant film with plenty of laughs. Mel Brooks has assembled one terrific cast and they all deliver great performances. The thing that really stood out for Blazing Saddles, that I thought was very humorous was the deliberate use of many anachronisms. I thought the fact that it did so many times; it made this film so much funnier. The film is crude, but you can't deny its terrific use of comedy. This is one of the best films that Mel Brooks has made. Blazing Saddles is filled with hilarious comedic moments, and the cast involved definitely make this film worth seeing. If you're a fan of Westerns, but a more comedic element to the point it's a spoof, then Blazing Saddles is the film for you. There's a strong cast on screen, and they all deliver something, funny and clever that will appeal to viewers. If you're a fan of Mel Brooks' work, then give this one a viewing, or if you already have seen it, then pop it into your DVD player and revisit this timeless Western spoof. There's so much to love about Blazing Saddles and the comedy displayed on screen, is of course crude and vulgar at times, but its all in good fun. If you're a fan of Brooks' work, then you're most likely going to enjoy this real comedy classic. This is definitely not a comedy to miss out on. Superbly well acted and with sharp, witty comedy will make this a film that you'll remember for a long time.

Matheus Carvalho

Politically-incorred, vulgar, crude, infamous, nonsense. And I had a terrific time watching it.

Christian C

Mel Brooks is at his best in this dated but hilarious film.

Chris Weber

This is probably one of the greatest comedies of all time, and definitely one of the top genre spoofs ever as well.
It's a send up of westerns, and a… MoreThis is probably one of the greatest comedies of all time, and definitely one of the top genre spoofs ever as well.
It's a send up of westerns, and a vulgar, race based satire that, to this day, still has the power to shock and raise eyebrows. The plot follows the exploits of the first black sheriff of a stunned western town set to be demolished by an encroaching railroad.
It's raw, crude, and quite hilarious. It is also highly unconventional, and earns tons of points for being ballsy and being the sort of thing that couldn't be made today, at least not without some major (and unfortunate) changes.
All in all, a must see film that is big on laughs, has a lot of brains, and gets in some good satire and subtext.

Tim Salmons

Mel Brooks' comedy masterpiece Blazing Saddles has never lost any of its comedic value since its 1974 theatrical release. It holds just as much power for… MoreMel Brooks' comedy masterpiece Blazing Saddles has never lost any of its comedic value since its 1974 theatrical release. It holds just as much power for laughter as it did nearly 40 years ago. The amazing cast includes Gene Wilder, Harvey Korman, Slim Pickens, Madeline Kahn and a bit of inspired casting with Cleavon Little. Everybody is on top of their game with this one. Stories have been told that both John Wayne and Richard Pryor were asked to be in the film, with Pryor still sharing a screen credit today. I can't imagine what that version of the film would have been like but it's amazing to ponder. People consider Young Frankenstein the great Mel Brooks classic, but I consider it second to this. It's a far more superior comedy, and I guess a bit subversive also.

Melvin White

"Excuse me while I whip this out." Blazing Saddles is the best spoof ever. A minute doesn't go by without a laugh. Some of them may be cheap… More"Excuse me while I whip this out." Blazing Saddles is the best spoof ever. A minute doesn't go by without a laugh. Some of them may be cheap laughs, but it's a Mel Brooks movie so that should be expected. It hits on so many cliches in the western genre, it's ridiculous and has so many scenes that are just classic. I'm glad Cleavon Little got the role of Bart instead of Richard Pryor. I can't see anybody else in that role not even Pryor. Blazing Saddles is easily one of Mel Brooks best films.